#ShowMeYourBrave: New Lungs, New Life

This story comes to us from Sarah Taylor, whose husband Keith Childerhose waited three long and stressful months for a pair of lungs to save his life. Three years later, Keith is still alive, and together they work to spread education about organ donation and encourage everyone to sign up to be organ donors. (For links to information about organ donation outside Canada, please see THIS page.) You can read more about their story at Taking a Deep Breath, and join their Facebook community Lungs for Keith to Breathe as well.

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I waited, while my husband was dying, for someone else to pass away so that my husband could live.

Keith was days from dying, with less than 8% lung function and on a ventilator in ICU in January of 2013. I found myself on a journey that I never imagined: overseeing Keith’s care, and doing my best to remain positive with the media, friends, and on social media.

In truth, I have never been so scared in my entire life.

In private I cried. In public I remained ever-hopeful that Keith would receive the lungs that he so badly needed, and yet I struggled every day knowing that someone had to die in order for him to breathe on his own again.

When a 79-year-old man passed away in late January, Keith was given breath.

The joy that I felt was tempered by a sense of loss for this family who lost their father, husband, and grandfather.

I was scared for months. I had no choice but to do what I did and take care of and support my husband. The experience was indescribable, and although I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, I would do it again and again.

Love means doing stuff that is scary, and trusting that it will all be okay.

(photo source: Virtuoso Photography, via Sarah Taylor)

The #ShowMeYourBrave Project asks people, “What’s the bravest, scariest, or most intimidating thing you’ve ever done?”. The idea of the project is to share stories of everyday bravery and human resilience to bring us closer together. In sharing, we not only find our voices, but we find support, allies, and others who have faced similar challenges. If you would like to submit your story, we would love to feature your bravery here.